Department for Transport | Taxi Reform

Following the issue of Baroness Casey's audit on group-based child sexual exploitation (CSE) and abuse ('grooming gangs') in June, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Minister of State (Department for Transport), has confirmed in an answer to a question that:

“The Department for Transport will legislate to address the important issues raised in the report, tackling the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing. We will work as quickly as possible and consider all options – including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.

In the interim we will act urgently to make improvements, including consulting on making local transport authorities responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, and determining how existing statutory guidance can be strengthened to further protect the public. We are also reviewing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and will hold those who do not follow it to account.”

The reforms proposed will hopefully have the desired impact on CSE and wider passenger safety concerns arising from perceived inconsistencies between Licensing Authorities.

Whether this is the first step to wider reform of the taxi sector, which is considered by many not to be fit for purpose in the modern era, we wait to see.  Making local transport authorities, of which there are 38 in England, responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing in place of Local Authorities (317 in England) would hopefully lead to greater consistency; but would not be the panacea the sector seeks.

We shall keep you updated.